FERMA MD lauds self over Benin-Sagamu, Ijora roads

Despite the public outcry against the poor state of Nigerian roads, especially the Ondo State section of Benin– Sagamu expressway, which has remained dilapidated over a long time, the Managing Director of Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Mr. Kabiru Abdullahi, has expressed satisfaction with the ongoing maintenance of Benin–Ore–Shagamu expressway (Ondo section).

Mr. Abdullahi also listed the Ijora causeway in Lagos as one of the roads it had scored a point of success. The roads, he said, were being handled by Messrs. Kopek Construction Nigeria Limited and PW Nigeria Limited respectively.

He said that as worrisome as the Benin– Ore–Shagamu expressway might be, the full recovery of the road would entail complete reconstruction, which was beyond the mandate of the agency.

FERMA’s intervention, he said, was to ensure that high value roads that impacted on the national economy, and the wellbeing of the public were regularly maintained to ensure free flow of traffic and facilitate economic development.

According to him, FERMA ordinarily does not work on roads where there is an existing contract such as the one Federal Ministry of Works has on the Benin– Ore–Shagamu road, since maintenance of the road is usually part of major construction and rehabilitation contracts.